The Castle

By: Franz Kafka, Mark Harman - Translator

Narrated by: George Guidall

On his deathbed, Franz Kafka asked that all his unpublished manuscripts be burned. Fortunately, his request was ignored, allowing such works as The Trial to earn recognition among the literary masterpieces of the 20th century. This brilliant translation of The Castle captures comedic elements and visual imagery that earlier interpretations missed.

A traveler known only as K. is promised a job as Land-Surveyor by officials of the Castle. But when K. arrives in town to claim his position, he learns that owing to a clerical error, his services aren’t needed after all. Seeking an explanation, K. endures increasingly frustrating setbacks as he strives in vain to simply make contact with someone—anyone—from the Castle.

Saturated with absurdist humor, this haunting novel has fascinated and puzzled listeners throughout the world. Some critics praise it as the century’s great religious parable, while others interpret it as indisputably antireligious.

©1958, 1968, 1982 Alfred A. Knopf (P)2004 Recorded Books

Pointed pointlessness

Not for everyone. Ends mid-sentence, unfinished, with plenty of threads left dangling. At no point will you feel like you have a firm grasp on where the story is going. Maybe that's the point. And maybe that point is worth thinking about.

Great performance, chapters marked incorrectly

Great performance, chapters marked incorrectly. I think the book is still worth buying but if you are switching back and forth between hard copy it makes it confusing. Also the chapters in the book are clearly organized by scene and subject so the audiobook chapters don’t make sense

Weird

This is the most frustrating book I have ever listened to. I got the audio version because I really like this narrator. In the end, I just let the beautiful tones of the voice and words wash over me. Very tangled and strange story. Beautifully read though. Horrible end to an excrutiating and baffling story. I think Kafka is making a good point but causes the reader much suffering in so doing. Like walking in marshmallow.

Would have preferred David Whiting translation

Would have preferred the Audible based on David Whiting’s translation, however, there is no paperback, hardcover, or kindle edition, which is startling and disappointing. Guidall’s performance is pretty good, better than the others available. I prefer a narrator with a English accent which I think is more appropriate for The Castle and The Trial. The translation for both novels is Mark Harman. It is excellent.

excellent

I found the narration to be very good. Kafka is, as ever, wonderfully clever, funny and *unique*. But it is hard to keep up with sometimes. This audiobook surpassed my expectations. Excellent!

I can't remark on the quality of the translation that another reviewer has complained about. I have read the standard english version and this seems to be the same.